Animal Life Science Lab. Mako Nakamura, Ph.D., P.I. | Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University

Mako Nakamura, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

・ Associate Professor, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture
・ Animal Life Science Lab., Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences
・ Human and Life Area, School of Interdisciplinary Science

Laboratory overview

Sustainable development is seriously considered to people in the world. My research field, livestock production and consumption must be sustainable as well. Demands of meat have kept increasing as world population rapidly grows. Meat consumption cannot be paused and livestock are slaughtered whenever markets demand. By-products (internal organs) are also produced at the same time although the market did not ask for. They usually are sent to rendering factories to burn. But we should pay more attention to the by-products and explore the possibilities on these organs as edible foods. We focus on smooth muscles that is one of the major parts of the by-product.

Research theme

Understanding Smooth Muscle and Skeletal Muscle Can Open The Door for Future Meat.

The lab has been interested in skeletal and smooth muscle development. They both contain similar proteins that must influence meat flavor and texture. We have been working on what kind of proteins are involved to form a muscle fiber called a myofiber. We also want to investigate why smooth muscle cells do not form these fibers. Understanding the similarity and difference between the two muscles is quite important to plan future meat production.

Skeletal Muscle Projects

The muscle stem cell marker, Pax7 function on myocyte/adipocyte cell differentiation
Peroxisome specific marker Nudt7 involvement on muscle cell differentiation and muscle development

Smooth Muscle Projects

Smooth muscle cell development of chick gizzard (stomach).
Stem cell niche affecting the smooth muscle cell differentiation

People

Mako Nakamura, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Apr. 2019 ~ School of Interdisciplinary Science
Apr. 2007 ~ Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University
Oct. 2003 ~ Mar. 2007 Postdoctoral Associate, University of Massachusetts Medical School, U.S.A.
Apr. 2002 ~ Oct. 2003 Postdoctoral Associate, Fox Chase Cancer Center, U.S.A.

Students

Mutsuki NAKAGOMI B.A. Candidate School of Interdisciplinary Science
Yo IWAMOTO B.A. Candidate School of Interdisciplinary Science

Internal Collaborators

Ryuichi TATSUMI Professor Muscle and Meat Science Lab. Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course
Takahiro SUZUKI Associate Professor Muscle and Meat Science Lab. Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course
Kosuke TOKUNAGA Ph.D. candidate Muscle and Meat Science Lab. Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course
Syota AKIMOTO M.A. candidate Muscle and Meat Science Lab. Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course
Machiko AIBA M.A. candidate Muscle and Meat Science Lab. Animal and Marine Bioscience educational course

Publications

Epigenetic effect induced by the ectopic expression of Pax7 in 3T3-L1
Elgaabari A., Miyawaki-Kuwakado A., Tomimatsu K., Wu Q., Tokunaga K., Izumi W., Suzuki T., Tatsumi R., and *Nakamura M
Journal of Bioechemistry, in press, 2021
Paired box 7 inhibits differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes
Izumi W., Takuma Y., Ebihara R., Mizunoya W., Tatsumi R., and *Nakamura M
Animal Science Journal, 89, 8, p.1214-1219, 2018

Access

Nakamura Lab., Animal Life Science Lab.
Grad. School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University

Rm. 416 and 460, West Zone 5
744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka
819-0395, JAPAN

mako_n @ agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp